Are You Offended Yet?

John 6:56-69

Pentecost 13

Has the Gospel of Jesus Christ ever offended you?  No?  Then, perhaps, you haven’t been reading it carefully enough.  I think that a lot of us have managed to domesticate Jesus.  We have painted him as this nice guy, a friendly figure who was loving, kind, accepting and non-confrontational.  A gentle man who made people feel good about themselves.  Someone we can call on to be comforted in all our sorrows and, other than that, will pretty much leave us alone.  But offensive?  That’s a side we don’t think about much.  Oh, sure, maybe he offended the Scribes and the Pharisees and the Sadducees.  We cheer him on when he is prickling those folks.  But us?  Those of us who are disciples?  Never!

But that is not the picture the New Testament paints of Jesus.  Indeed, he was loving, kind and accepting – to the point that it scandalized both friends and foes alike.  He ate with tax collectors and sinners, he talked with women in public, he touched lepers and welcomed children.  He said and did things that offended the good people of his day, and inflamed the powerful to the point that they wanted him dead…  and eventually got their way.  In the end,  Jesus proved so scandalous that the Jewish leadership and their Roman supporters had him crucified, the crowds turned against him and Judas, one of his closest friends, betrayed him.

But us?  Jesus offend us?  I think it is easy to rationalize our way around some of the hard things Jesus said.  How about “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  (Matthew 6:44)  Sure, maybe the neighbor next door who irritates us, but how about ISIS?  Surely Jesus didn’t mean them!  That would be, well, offensive!  But then, Jesus did pray that God forgive the Romans who were nailing him to the cross.  (Luke 23:34)  Or how about the time he told a potential follower,  “if you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor.”  (Matthew 19:21)  Certainly, he didn’t mean that for anyone but this man.  Why would he expect ME to give away more than 2% of my income?  (The average giving of Lutheran Christians is right around 2%)  Be reasonable, I need the other 98%!  To ask for more would be, well, offensive!   That’s just two examples.  There are plenty more. 

Jesus’ words and actions often challenge us.  They push us.  They break us open.  They help us to see and experience the world in a whole different way.  Ultimately, they drive us to our knees and draw forth a confession like Peter’s at the end of John 6,  “Lord, to whom can we go?  You have the words of eternal life!”   They help us to see that in Christ and the God he revealed there is food that will truly nourish our souls, and expose as empty calories the earthly things we tend to look to for meaning and hope.

Are you offended yet?  If not, keep following Jesus and you will be.  And, that’s really, really good news.